Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



w. c. BECKWITH.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS. APPLICATION nusu SEPT. 1 1. 1911.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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Finn.

WALTER BECKWITI-I, or nos roiara, OHIO.

arrrmarus non nAI-snve'sunKnn vnssnrs.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 340, 191%.

Application filed. September 11, 1917; Serial No. 190,763.

being had tothe accompanying drawings,

and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of thisspecification.

My invention relates to and its object is to provide an apparatus forraisingsunken boats or ships, and consists of thedevices and mechanismshereinafter described, and

shown and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1is a top-plan view,diagrammatic in pa rt,of three units of my apparatus,operatively arranged above a submerged vessel; Fig. 2, an end-view ofoneof said units; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional elevation of acontrollingvalve hereinafter referred to, and Fig. 4, a cross-sectionalelevation of one of the floats hereinafter referred to, together withthe check-valves with which said float is provided.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, 1-1 are pontoons arranged in pairs, which, while theymay be of any suitable shape, are preferably of elongated cylindricalform. These pontoons have, respectively, an axial shaft 2 upon theprojecting ends of which are supported the uprights 3 of a stoutframework which includes an elevated platform 4, forming a deck of suchextent and stability as to support the necessary workmen and machinery.The distance between the pontoons should be greater than thewidth of thevessel to be raised. Mounted upon the shaft 2 of each of the pontoons isa Windlass or winch 5 upon which is wound a chain or cable 6 leadingdown to and engaged with the vessel to be raised. 7 is a longpowerful'arm or lever one end of which is pivoted upon the shaft 2 theother or outer end of the lever being connected with. a float 8.Ratchets 9 on the drums ofthe windlasses 5 are engaged and turned bypawls 10 on the levers 7 during the upward movement of the levers.

The unwinding movement of the drums is prevented by pawls 11 secured tothe frame of the device and which engage the teeth of the ratchet 9during the descent of the floats. These floats are intended to be filledand emptied whereby the floats will alternately sink and float and willpowerfully actuate the windlasses to wind upon them the chains i orcables 6. This is accomplished by means of, mechanisms now to bedescribed.

Upon the platform iis an air compressor 12. Leading from the compressorare pipes 13 through which the compressed air is driven and in which,respectively, is a twoway valve 14:. r The pipes 13,. through a flexiblehose or suitable pipe-connection .15,

lead into thefloats 8, as at 16. In the floats are check-valves 17 and18, the former opening inwardly, the latter opening outwardly. Thus farI have described one of the units of my apparatus. It will be understoodthat as many of these units may be employed in the raising of a vesselas may be required by the length of the vessel and as will furnishbuoyancy superior to the weight of the submerged vessel.

The operation of my device is as follows: The pontoons 1 being disposedabove and at opposite sides of the vessel to be raised and the chains orcables 6 being attached to or connected with the submerged vessel, thevalves 14 are placed in such position that the air may flow back throughpipes 13 and escape from the floats 8. Now thewater is permitted to fillthe floats through the inwardly opening check-valves 17, causing thefloats to fill and to sink; The air compressor being now set in motionand the valve 1 1 being set for the passage of compressed air into thefloats, the water is expelled from the floats through valve 18. By theirbuoyancy the floats now swing to the surface of the water, causing thewindlasses to turn and to wind upon them the chains or cables 6. It willbe seen that the valves 141 may be positioned to close all of its portsand to re tain the air in the floats under such compression as toexclude water even when the air compressor is not operating.

Thus, by the repeated action of the floats the chains or cables aregradually wound upon the drums of the windlasses, and the sunken vesselis slowly lifted to the surface of the water for such further treatmentor maneuvering as circumstances may require.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Pat- .to be raised levers in oaerative relation to theWindlasses, floats connected to the levers and means for alternatelyfilling and emptying the floats.

2. In an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, a pair of pontoons, aframework including a platform carried by-said pontoons, windlassesmounted coaXially with the pontoons, a cable upon the windlasses adaptedfor engagement with the body to be raised. levers which cooperate Withthe windlasses, floats connected with said levers, means for filling andemptying the-floats whereby the floats are lowered and raised andwhereby the Windlasses are actuated.

3. In an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, a pair of pontoons, aframework carried by and connecting said pontoons, a deck upon theframework, w-indlasses supported Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor by the pontoons, levers adapted by their rise and fall to actuatesaid windlasses, floats carried by the levers, an air compressor con- 4.In a device of the described cha actor a Windlass, a lever, a floatconnected to the lever, means for filling and emptying the float wherebythe float alternately sinks and floats and means for ope-rativelyconnecting the lever with the Windlass during the ascent of the float,and means for holding the the Windlass against turning during thedescent of the float.

5. In an apparatus for raising sunken Vessels, a Windlass, a leveradapted and arranged to actuate the Windlass, a float attached to thelever and devices for alternately filling and emptying the float.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER C. BECKlVITl-l.

Witnesses:

E. R. HINKLEY, G. H. Goss.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G." l

